^w 



1 '%;■ 



c 
V 



§: .s^^ 







o v 




i\' i ' • 


o[ 



i^"- ^^ S' 



^ 



7<^Ji^- 



.V 



V 






'^^ ^^i^ 



^M^<^ ^s^' 



^[^(^1^/ .^^'^^ ^^'^S^ 






>^ 



V 



. It^ilWjJ^ off o ^ ^^. 

4\\ 'S.; / 



' ..^' 










^<^ c'^' 



>4 -.»«■- J 



v-'V 



^. 



Af: 




' . . s * /> 







:%^/k.- >. c:> 



_ ^; 



■^^'^^:^y'' /'\i:;^:\:" c«^ .'^%'^°o ,^^ 



'bV 



-Jv -'Ml//^^- '-^^^^ 0^-5^^^. ^^^^^ 




•^0^ 













■^' . 




























^^ <^ /rA'^^A,*'- %*- 



Tract No. 10. 

From the Colonization Journal, February, 1862. 



SELF-EMANCIPATION. 



A SUCCESSFUL EXPERIMENT ON A LAKGE ESTATE IN 
LOUISIANA, 

BY 

MR. JOHISI McDONOaH. 

COMPLETED IN 1S40. 



While the subject of compensating owners of slaves for sucb 
as shall be emancipated by the Act of State Legislatures, which 
involves property represented by several hundred millions, to be 
assumed as a national burthen, is under discussion, the fullowirg 
narrative of an experiment made by Mr. John McDonogb, and 
furnished by him for the Neiv Orleans Bulleti?i, about the mid- 
dle of July, 1842, sheds light upon the question of special value. 

We have here the fact ihnt a whole family of slaves were so 
stimulated to industry by the hope of earning their freedom, 
that the owner not only received from their wages full value, but 
from their extra diligence as slaves, enough more, to have replaced 
them by the purchase of others. 

On this plan any State might, by enacting a law securing to 
every slave the right to purchase his liberty at a fair valuation, as 
is done in Cuba, under SpAni&b law, to this dny, develop the same 
industry and self-reliant labor, so that really the burthen of eman- 
cipation would not be felt. The slave population might be- 
co-iie their own redeemers by peaceful industry in one generation. 

If, during the progress of the experiment, there was no relax- 
ation of race prejudice, and both classes of population should 
deem separation mutually beneficial, or the dominant race should 
insist upon it, one or two years additional only would be needed 
to earn abundant means for the purpose. 

We commend the letter to all thoughtful minds. 

Messrs. Editors : — In a piece wrote by me in June last, on 
the subject of sending away some of my black people to Africa, 
aad published in your paper of the 24th of that month, I ob- 



» ! J ^ Z)^ 



served that " the act of et'Dding those people away is, in ray 
case, one of simple honesty alone." 

HE CLAIMS NO GENEROSITY SIMPLY HONESTY. 

I lay no claira, nor am I ec titled to any credit or praise on the 
score of generosity. My meaning in the above assertion, I will 
explain, Messrs. Editors, through your paper, should my leisure 
admit of it, at some future time, and the rather, as it may per- 
haps be of service to the slaveholders of the State, to know how 
one who has had much to do, for forty years past, with the treat- 
ment of slaves, has succeeded in it. When they find, from my 
experience, that they can send their whole gangs to Africa, every 
fifteen years, without the cost of a dollar to themselves, what mas- 
ter will refuse to do so much good, when it will cost him nothicg 
in the doing of it, and afford him at the same time such high 
gratification, in knowing that he has contributed to the makicg 
many human beings happy ? For my experience will show that, 
with a proper treatment of slaves, the gain from their extra labor 
— that is, labor over and above that which slaves in general yield 
their owners— in the course of time — say, fifteen years — will en- 
able their masters to send them out, and purchase, in Virginia or 
Maryland, with the gain made from said extra labor, a gancr of 
equal number to rep'ace them. In addition to which, what an 
amount of satisfaction, I would ask every humane master, would 
he not enjoy, in knowing that he was surrounded by friends, on 
whose faithfulness and fidelity he and his family could rely, under 
every possible contingency !'' In fulfillment, then, of said prom- 
ise, 1 now undertake fo explain the observation I then made, 
that " the act of sendicg these people away is, in my case, 
one of simple honesty alone ;" and to set forth and show the 
mode I adopted and pursued, after much experience and reflec- 
tion on the subject for many years, in their treatment, and its 
results. 

Before commencing, however, this long detail of treatment 
and its attending circumstances, I will promise to those who feel 
an interest in the subject, and will take the trouble to read this 
recital, that it is one of egotism throughout ; it tells of what the 
master said and what he did, from the beginning of the chapter 
to its end. In this, therefore, I will be excused ; it is what I 
promised, and there is but one way of telling the story to make 
it intelligible. 



iO-li^7 



IN 1822 HE GAVE HIS SLAVES SATURDAY AFTERNOON, AND WHY ! 

To proceed, then, and give you the plan which 1 laid down for 
myself, and have pursued for the last seventeen years, for the con- 
duct and management of those I held in bondage, I have to 
observe that having been at all times opposed to laboring on the 
Sabbath day except in cases of actual necessity, one of my rules 
for their walk and guidance in life always was, that they should 
never work on that holy day, prohibited as we were from so 
doing by the divine law. A long experience, however, con- 
vinced me of the utter impossibility of carrying it out in prac- 
tice by men held in bondage, and obliged to labor for their 
master six full days in the week ; and I saw, on reflection, much 
tc extenuate, as to them, the offence against my rule. They were 
men, and stood in need of many little necessaries of life not sup- 
plied by their master, and which they could obtain in no other 
way but by labor on that day. I therefore had often to shui 
my eyes and not see the offence, though 1 knew my instructions 
on that head were not obeyed ; and in consequence, after long 
and fruitless exertions, continued for many years, to obtain 
obedience to that injunction, I determiaed to allow them the one- 
half of Saturday — say, Saturday from mid-day until night — to 
labor for themselves, under a penalty well understood by them, 
of punishment for disobedience, if they violated thereafter tho 
Sabbath day, and sale to some other master. 

HAPPY EFFECT OF SABBATH TEACHING. 

From this time, which was about the year 1822, the Sabbath 
day was kept holy ; church was regularly attended, forenoon 
and afternoon (for I had a church built expressly for them on my 
own plantation, in which a pious neighbor occasionally preached 
on the Sabbath day, assisted by two or three of my own male 
slaves, who understood, preached, and expounded the Scriptures 
passably well, and at times I read them a sermon myself); and I 
perceived, in a very short time, a remarkable change in their 
manners, conduct, and life, in every respect for the better. 

THE SLAVES EARNED MUCH MONEY BY WORK SATURDAY AFTER- 
NOON. IF LAID UP, MIGHT PURCHASE THEIR FREEDOM. 

We proceeded on in this way, happy, prosperous, and blessed 
in every respect by the Most High, for about three years, or 
until 1825, when, seeing the amount of money which they gained 



by their Saturday afternoons' labor (they in general labored for 
myself, though they were permitted to labor for whom they 
}>leased, giving the preference to their master, even at a less rate 
of wages, on whose honesty they could depend for payment, for 
they were paid as regularly as the night came), in the long days of 
summer, I paid the men for their Saturday afternoons' labor at the 
rate of sixty-two and a half cents per day, the women at the rate 
of fifty cents per day ; in the short days of winter, I paid the 
men at the rate of fifty cents per day, the women thirty-seven 
and a half cents per day, and the large boys and girls in propor- 
tion. 

A PLAN FOR SELF-EMANCIPATION PROJECTED IN 1825. 

I was led to calculate in what length of time, by labor, econ- 
omy, and perseverance in well-doing, they would be enabled to 
purchase the remaining five and a half days of the week (seeing 
that they bad a capital of their own, in the one-half of one day 
in each week to begin the trade on), and by that means obtain 
freedom for themselves and children. In this estimate and cal- 
culation, I soon satisfied myself that it could be effected in the 
space of fourteen to fifteen years, at the furthest. The next con- 
sideration with me was, " Is it my interest to assist them in its 
accomplishment? or can I, by any means I can devise, make it to 
become my interest to assist them in obtaining their freedom 
in that time ?" This also required reflection and calcula- 
tion. I went at it, and in a very short time, from the clearest of 
all deductions, was convinced, satisfied thatit could be done, and 
that it was, in every point of view in which the subject could be 
looked at and considered, my interest, and more especially if I 
took into view the considerations of satisfaction, pleasantness, and 
happinesF, which I should enjoy in tending to the happiness of 
others, to do it. 

THE PLAN PROPOSED TO HIS BEST SLAVES. 

When thus saliirfied that the project was good in itself, and 
worthy of trial for various solid reasons, I determined to lay my 
plan before them, and explain it in all its bearings — that is, before 
some ten or twelve men and women — those men and women in 
whom the others had confidence, and looked up to, at all times and 
in all situations, for their superior talents, capacity, and virtues, for 
counsel and advice (for it is the same with the black as the 
white man ; assemble together, for the first time, twenty or fifty 



while men — a company of soldiers, for instance — and within forty- 
eight hours after being brought together, though strangers 
to each other, the great majority will place their eyes on certain 
men among them, for their wisdom, courage, and virtue, on whom 
they, unknowingly to one another, determine to look up to, as 
leaders or chiefs', to conduct, counsel, and advise them). This 
I did when church service was over, on a Sabbath afternoon, 
observing to them, that having their welfare and happiness in 
this world, as well as the next, much at heart, I was, in conse- 
quence, greatly desirous of serving them and their children ; 
that in furtherance of these views and desires, I had a plan to 
propose to them, which, " if you have confidence in the truth and 
honesty of your master, of his friendship for you, and sincere de- 
sire to serve you and do you good (for except you have that 
confidence in him, and mutual regard, friendship, and esteem for 
him, there would be no use in saying a word more about it, or 
in attempting to carry out the plan I have to propose to you ; for 
I notify you beforehand, it cannot succeed, if the most unlimited 
confidence and esteem do not mutually exist, as well on the side of 
the master as of the servant), will, from this day and hour, change 
the whole course of your lives, though I acknowledge in justice 
to you all, that I have no particular charge to make against the 
morality of your past lives and walk in the love and fear of God. If 
you and your children will be faithful, honest, true, sober, economi- 
cal, industrious — not eye-servants — laboring day and night, con- 
sidering the atfairs and interest of your master as the afiairs, con- 
cerns, and interest of each and every one of you individually, and 
all this with fixed determination to persevere in well-doing to the 
end, under every temptation that may assail jou, and over every ob- 
stacle that may fall in your way, and will in every thing be ruled, 
directed, and guided by rae, I will then, in that case, and under 
this full agreement and understanding between us, undertake so 
to manage your affairs, by becoming your banker, the keeper of 
your gains and of your accounts, as to insure your freedom and 
that of your children, with the blessing of the Most High — viz., 
your freedom in Liberia, in the land of your fathers, a great and 
glorious laud ; for, let it be understood between us, it is your 
fret^dom in Liberia that I contract for, for I would never consent 
to give freedom to a single individual among you, to remain on 
the same soil with the white man — within the term, according to 
my estimate and calculation, of fifteen or sixteen years, or there- 



6 

abouts, say a year or two Booner, or a year or two later. This 
will be eflfected, in conformity to my plan and estimate, in the fol- 
lowing manner — viz : The one-half of Saturday being already 
your own, in consequence of my agreement with you that no 
labor should be done on the Sabbath day, your first object will 
be to gain a sufficient sum of money to purchase the other half 
of Saturday, which is the one-eleventh part of the time you have 
to labor for your master, and of conBequence, the one-eleventh 
part of the value your master has put upon you, and which you 
have to pay him for your freedom. This, I notify you, will be 
the most difficult part of your undertaking, and take the longest 
time to accomplish, and is to be effected by laboring for me on 
Saturday afternoons, and leaving the amount of your labor in 
my hands, to be husbanded up for you. By foregoing every 
thing yourselves, and drawing as little money as possible out of 
my hands, I calculate you will be able to accomplish it iu about 
seven years ; that once accomplished, and one whole day out of 
six your own, you will go on more easily and rapidly ; indeed, 
that once effected, your success is certain, 

*' Proceeding, then, on in your good work, you will be enabled 
easily, by your earnings on one entire day in each week, to effect 
the purchase of another day of your time, in about four years. 
Now master and owner of two days in each week, you will be 
able, in two years more, to purchase another day, so that three 
d^iys, or the one-half of your time, will be your own ; in one 
and a half years more, you will be able to purchase another day, 
making four days your own; in one year more, another, or the 
fifth day ; and in six months, the last day, or the whole of 
your time, will be your own. Your gains, in less than another 
year, will suffice to free (added to what the youths will have 
gained in the mean time) your children, and all will be accom- 
plished. In the foregoing estimate, I calculate that you will draw 
from me occasionally some small sums of money, to furnish little 
necessaries you may need ; but you will remember, when one 
draws, the whole of you, each individual, must draw at the same 
time — the men, an equal sum each ; the women, the three- 
fourth part each of the sum drawn by the men. 

PRICES CHARGED THE SLAVES. 

" You shall be estioiated at fair and reasonable prices — say, the 
men at six hundred dollars each ; the women at four hundred and 
fifty ; and the boys, girls, and children in proportion. An ac- 



count shall be opened at once on my books, and your valuations 
charged, without taking into account the increased value of the 
youth and children as they advance in age, and no child to be 
charged who shall be born after the commencement of this 
agreement — this, in some measure, as a counterbalance to an 
interest account, as none will be calculated or allowed you on 
the amount of your gains in my hands. Such men and women 
as have no children of their own, when they have worked out 
their prices, shall be held and obligated to work and assist in 
paying for the children of others, so that the whole company 
shall go on the same day on shipboard, and sail for your father- 
land. I expect and shall insist on a strict performance of your 
moral and religious duties in every respect, and church legularly 
attended by you and your children, forenoon and afternoon, on 
the Sabbath day. 

PENALTY OF MISCONDUCT. 

As I would not agree to keep an immoral or bad servant, 
or one whom I would be obliged to have chastised for offences, 
on any consideration, should any of you, therefore, commit crimes 
at any time, whilst serving under this agreement, he, or she, 
shall be immediately put up at public sale (iheir offences de- 
clared and made known), and sold ; and whatever money they 
had earned under this agreement, shall go to the benefit of the 
others in general." 

[I have now to state, that during the whole of the period in 
which they were laboring for themselves, under this agreement, 
I had to sell, for conduct I could not pardon, but two individuals ; 
this should not be considered strange, looking at the situation 
in which they were placed, in the vicinage of such a city as 
New-Orleans, and oftentimes within its bosom for months 
together.] 

PLAN RECEIVED "WITH TEARS OF JOY BY THE SLAVES. 

I have now to observe that their surprise and astonishment at 
such a proposal — coming, as it did, from a master who had un- 
limited legal power over them and their time — expecting noth- 
ing of the kind, may be easily conceived. They gave their 
consent with tears of joy ; declared the confidence they enter- 
tained of my truth, honesty, and pure intentions to do them and 
their children good, and their wiUingness and determination to 
be guided in all things by me, and to make my will and my in- 
terest, after the Divine will, the study and rule of their lives. 



A AVEEK OF CONSULTATION. 

On separating, I told them to communicate my plan and pro- 
posals to their adult fellow-servants, male and female, and to 
say to them that none were bound or forced to come into the 
arrangement who had any objection to it — that such as did not 
wish to accept of it, should go on under the old regulations ; 
and I requested one and all of them to consult together through 
the week, and to give me their final answer and determination 
on the next Sabbath in church, when it should be confirmed or 
abandoned. 

PLAN NOT TO BE MADE PUBLIC. 

At the same time charging them, as they valued my affection, to 
keep what I had said to them (desirous, as I was, to avoid, by so 
doing, the making the slaves of other plantations unhappy or 
discontented) in their own bosoms, and never to disclose it until 
after they should have left the country for Africa, to a living 
being on earth. " Be content," said I to them, " with the good 
you are about to receive, and keep the knowledge of it to your- 
selvep." Tbis they promised me they would do, and which, I 
believe, they religiously did. 

JOYFUL ACCEPTANCE OF THE PLAN BY ALL. 

On the next Sabbath day, I met them in church, and was 
told that they had informed all their fellow-servants of my 
views and intentions towards them ; that they had well reflected 
through the past week on all that I had said to them ; that 
they were at a loss for words to express their love and gratitude 
to me for what I had done, and was now desirous of doing for 
them and their children ; that they had always looked on me in 
the light of a father, deeply interested in their welfare ; that I 
was the only true friend they had on earth ; that they accepted 
one and all of the proposals I had made them, and were deter- 
mined, with the assistance of the Most High, to a change of 
life — to live and walk in the divine law ; to be guided, in all 
their worldly conduct, implicitly by my directions and counsel ; 
and to fulfill, with all the energy of their souls, the agreement 
they had entered into and laken with me. On this, I observed 
to them that it was all well ; that the contract and agreement 
was concluded; that we would on both sides, master and ser- 
vants, begin from that day to execute and carry it out ; that I 



ft 

would put down in writing all I had said to them, that no mis- 
take might arise thereafter, of what I had said, or what I had 
not said. That "to put you, however, more fully in possession 
of my scheme for your benefit, to give you a more perfect un- 
derstanding of it — of the contract you are about to take on 
yourselves — so that, in the carrying of it out, complete success 
may attend it on both sides, that neither party, master nor 
slave, may be disappointed, I vpili inform you what I expect to 
realize, and how it is to be eflected. 

EXTRA LABOR, TO GET THE MEANS OF EMIGRATION AKD SETTLE- 
MENT IN LIBERIA. 

" My object is your freedom and happiness in Liberia, without 
loss or the cost of a cent to myself, from sending you away, and 
conferring that boon, as the humble instrument of the Most 
High, on you and your children. How, you will naturally in- 
quire, is that to be done? I will tell you how it is to be done. 
There is but one way, one mode to effect it, that I can see or 
devise, and that is by greater assiduity and exertions in the slave 
to his labor during the usual hours of day labor, and especially 
by extra hours of labor before day in the morning, and after 
night in the evening. One hour after night in the evening, and 
one hour before day in tbe morning, would be two hours extra in 
twenty-four hours, which would be the one-sixth part more of 
time devoted to labor than is generally demanded of the slave, 
which is equivalent to two years and a half additional labor in 
fifteen years. Two hours' extra labor before day in the morning, 
and two hours after night in the evening, would be four hours 
extra in every twenty-four hours or day, which would be the one- 
third part more of time devoted to labor than is generally de- 
manded of the slave, which is equivalent to five entire years of 
additional and extra labor in fifteen years. Without a scheme of 
this kind," said I to thero, " by means of which you can effect a 
greater amount of labor in a given time than you otherwise could 
do, I could not afford to send you out ; for without it, my send- 
ing you to Liberia would, under tbe agreement, and in the mode 
I propose, of permitting you to gain your freedom by laboring 
during the liours and time which belong to your master, and by 
that means paying him for your time, though it appears specious 
in itself, be, in reality, the making you a present of your time — 
the making you and your children a gift of your freedom. For 
as the whole of your time belongs to your master (the Sabbath 



10 

day excepted, on which holy day neither master nor servant is 
permiitfd to labor), if he was to permit you to work on a certain 
part of it, to make money to purchase your freedom, he would, 
in reality, in so doing, make you a gift of your freedom, which 
few masters could afford to do. But in the mode which I pro- 
pose, and now explain to jou, that you may fully comprehend and 
understand it, which is the contract and agreement you are now 
making, and taking on yourselves to perform, your master will not 
make you a present of an hour of your time, and you, in reality, 
will have gained and placed in his hands, previous to the going 
out free, a sum of money arising from your extra labor, fully 
sufficient to enable him to purchase an equal number of people 
with yourselves, man for man, woman for woman, and youth and 
child for youth and child, to take your place in the work of his 
farm, so that his work and revenue shall not be stopped or arrest- 
ed for an hour, and to set you out with all things necessary in 
your new life and new undertaking, should he think proper so 
to do, much to your own advantage, respectability, and happi- 
ness, and to his own satisfaction and honor ; for a humane mas- 
ter will delight in tending to the happiness of those whom the 
Most High has placed under his care, and who have served him 
truly and faithfully. The only difference and change, then, 
which this arrangement will make in the affairs of your master, 
will be, that he will have the same number of new servants in 
the place and stead of his old and faithful ones, to do his work. 
You therefore now see and fully understand what my scheme for 
your benefit is. It is feasible, and can be easily accomplished ; 
while it will tend, at the same time, to the happiness of your 
lives while carrying it out and putting it into execution. I re- 
peat to you again," said I to them, "that my plan is based on 
extra labor ; that you must consider none, day or night, too 
great for you to perform, remembering, at the same time, that 
it is not to be accomplished in a day, but will require years of 
perseverance in well-doing, to effect it. Oq my part, you may 
depend on my prudence, not to involve myself by speculation 
or otherwise, with the Divine blessing, so as to put it out of my 
power tc carry out the agreement ; and I will take care, by keep- 
ing regular accounts of all your gains, and by instructions to my 
executors in my last will and testament, should it please Him in 
whose hands all things are, to take me from life before the full 
accomplishment of the scheme, to have our agreement truly 



11 

and fully executed, and justice rendered you, by selling you out 
as servants for time, and then, after the expiration of your term 
of service, seeing that you and your children are sent out to 
Liberia." 

THESE HARD TERMS AGREED TO BY THE SLAVES. 

To all this, they — the whole of the adults, men and women 
(no youth or child was present) — lent aa attentive ear ; and 
again, with eyes streaming with tears, assured me of their full 
determination to devote their days and nights to the honor of 
God, the happiness of their children, and the carrying out the 
plan I had devised for their benefit. 

RESULTS OF THE EXrERIMENT. 

It now remains for me to stale the results of the experiment. 

1. In less than six years, the first half day was gained and 
paid for by them. 

2. In &.ho\xi four years^ the next, or second day of the week, 
was paid for and their own. 

3. In about tivo and a quarter years, the next, or third day, 
was paid for and made their own. 

4. In about fifteen months, the next, or fourth day, was 
theirs. 

5. In about a year, the next, or fifth day, was gained and 
paid for. 

6. And in about six months, the last, or sixth day of the 
week, became their own, and completed the purchase — tffecting 
their freedom in about fourteen and a half years. After this, 
it took them somewhere about five months to labor, to pay the 
balance due on their children, added to what the youths, boys 
and girls, had earned. 

If there appears any discrepancy in the period in which they 
effected the purchase of the different days for themselves, it is 
to be accounted for in their drawing more money at one period 
than at another, as they frequently did towards the last, after 
they had accomplished the purchase of two or three days, or 
their freedom would have been sooner accomplished. 

COMPLETED AUGUST, 1840. 

This took place — the effecting of their freedom, in August, 
1840, nearly two years since, at which time they would have 
taken their departure for Liberia ; but as the Abolitionists of the 



12 

Northern and Eastern States of our Union had occasioned 
much excitement in our State, not only among the owners of 
slaves, but among the slaves themselves, I did not conbider it 
safe, or myself at liberty, however much I desired it, as there 
was a considerable black population in the immediate neigh- 
borhood of the residence of those my black people, to send them 
away. I therefore told them, without giving them the cause, 
that they must be satisfied to remain where they were until 
the proper time for their departure should arrive, with which 
they remained satisfied. So that they effected their freedom, as 
above stated, in about fourteen years and a half; and the asser- 
tion I made in your gazette of the 24th of June last, that 
" the act of sending those people away is, in my case, one of 
simple honesty alone," is explained in my having received in 
money from them, or the equivalent of money, the full price 
agreed on between us for their freedom in Liberia. 

REASON FOR THE PLAN. 

Some persons, Messrs. Editors, may now, perhaps, be disposed 
to say, Why proceed in this roundabout way, this giving the 
one-half of Saturday, this keeping of accounts, this purchasing 
of day after day, etc., etc.? It is all unnecessary, and their 
working to gain their time ao illusion. That the whole of (he 
time of the slave belongs to, and is the time of the master ; that 
the master can compel his labor, without freeing his slave, etc. 
I admit the truth of the latter part of the assertion, that the 
time and labor of the slave belong of right to the master, but 
denv that the first is illusory, as respects either one or the other, 
the master or his slave; for it is founded in the moral constitu- 
tion of man. 

INSPIRATION OF HOPE. 

Without hope, a certain something in the future for him to 
look forward and aspire to, man would be nothing. Deprive 
him of that inspiriting faculty of soul, and he would grovel in 
the dust as the brute. But, say they, why not promise hioi at 
once freedom after fifteen years' service? To thia I have many 
and strong objections. In that mode, his freedom would ap- 
pear the gift of his master, who might reosnt and retract, as 
ihe slave would fear, of his promise. In the other mode, the 
slave would have gained it — have purchased and paid his master 
for it. Hope would be kept alive in his bosom ; he would have 



13 

a goal in view, continually urging hira on to faithfulness, fidelity, 
truth, industry, economy, and every virtue and good work. The 
observations of a great and good roan, with whom I was in cor- 
respondence, made to me in one of his letters some years since, 
to whom I had faintly intimated the plan I was pursuing with 
my people, are so descriptive of their situation, feelings, and 
conduct, that I will give an extract from it : 

" Your plan, dear sir, as I infer from what you have intimated 
to me, calls into action a higher and nobler motive than servile 
fear. It holds out a reward t_> the obedient and the faithful. 
Such a motive can seldom fail. It is the impulsive cause of all 
good conduct. Hence we find it holding a conspicuous place in 
that system of government which the Almighty exercised over 
the ancient Israelites : 'If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall 
eat the good of the li^nd.' And the same motive to Christian 
conduct is presented under the Christian dispensation : 'Be thou 
faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.' " 

BA&IS OF THE PLAN RELIGION. 

From the foregoing summary, it will be seen that the basis of 
my plan for their success and government was religion — a de- 
siie to awaken in their bosoms the love of the Divinity. Hope 
and trust in him, once born in their souls, would produce its 
fruit — a determination to obedience, labor, order, economy, and 
all good works. That such was the result, and such the impul- 
sive cause of their true and faithful conduct, is shown. Its ef- 
fects on the interest of their master, his happiness, and their 
own happiness, are also seen and shown. They have now sailed 
for Liberia, the land of their fathers ; and I can say with truth 
and heartfelt satisfaction, that a more virtuous people do not ex- 
ist in any community ; and I pray the Most High to continue 
unto them the blessings which he never ceased to shower down 
on their heads whilst under my roof. 

CHANGE WIJOUGHT IN THEIK CHARACTER. 

I will further observe, that from the day on which I made the 
agreement with them, notwithstanding they had, at all times 
previous thereto, been a well-disposed and orderly people, an en- 
tire change appeared to come over tbem. They were no longer, 
apparently, the same people. A sedateness, a care, an economy, 
an industry, took possession of them, to which there seemed no 
bounds but in their physical strength. They were never tired of 



14 

laboring, and seemed as though they could never effect enough. 
They became temperate, moral, religious, setting an example of 
innocent and unoffending lives to the world around them, which 
was seen and admired by all. 

PECUNIARY RESULT. 

The result of my experiment, in a pecuniary point of view, 
as relates to myself, is not one of the least surprising of its 
features, and is this — that in a space of about sixteen years, 
which those people served me, since making the agreement 
with them, they have gained for me, in addition to having 
performed more and better labor than slaves ordinarily per- 
form in the usual time of laboring, a sum of money, includ- 
ing the sum they appear to have paid me in the purchase of 
their time, which will enable me to go to Virginia or Carolina, 
and purchase a gang of people of nearly double the number of 
those I have sent away. This I state from an account kept by 
me, showing the amount and nature of their extra work and la- 
bor, which I am ready to attest to in the most solemn manner, at 
any time. 

THEIR CHEERFUL INDUSTRY. 

Previous to entering into the agreement with these people, I 
calculated (and my estimate and calculation have been fully re- 
alized, and more than realized to me, in the result) that their 
labor would be given with all the energy of heart, soul, and 
physical powers ; that they would, in consequence, accomplish 
more labor in a given time, than the same number of people 
would in ordinary circumstances ; and that, in addition, they 
would labor some two, three, or four hours, morning and night, 
in the twenty-four hours of the day, more than other slaves were 
in the habit of doing, or would do. To set forth and show the 
spirit that actuated and filled their souls, in relation to their 
worldly concerns, during the whole time they were operating 
under this agreement, I will state in the sequel to this some cir- 
cumstances known here to hundreds of our most respectable 
citizens. 

THIS PLAN AVAILABLE FOR GENERAL EMANCIPATION. 

If the planters of Maryland, Virginia, and the Carolinas, 
whose lands are worn out, would entrust their slaves to the 
younger male branches of their families, to bring here, into our 



15 

State, to cultivate the richest alluvial Boils in the world, they 
would be enabled, ucder such an agreement with their slaves as 
I have pointed out above, every fifteen years — after gaining by 
their extra labor the value of their entire gangs, making large 
revenue?, and passing happy lives (for I can say with great 
truth, that the last sixteen years of mice, passed, as they have 
been, in peace, and without anxiety, in the midst of those people, 
have been among the most happy of my life ; for the very 
knowledge that I was surrounded by those who looked upon 
me in the light of a friend and lather, and who would willingly, 
at any time, have periled their own lives to have saved mine, if 
necessary, gave peace and serenity to the mind) — to send their 
entire gangs to Liberia, without a cost of a dollar to themselves. 
Besides which, to bring their slaves into this State, and keep 
them here fifteen years, would be an act of humanity, as it would 
inure them to a climate very analogous to that of Africa, and 
they would run no risk to their health or lives when afterwards 
settling in Liberia. 

MUTUAL CONFIDENCE NEEDED. 

I will now state that to carry out this plan with complete suc- 
cess, it is all-important that the slave has full and entire confi- 
dence in his master ; he must know and be convinced that hia 
master is his friend and well-wisher; that he is true, sincere, and 
honest. Without this confidence of the slave in his master, I at 
once confess, the plan could not be carried out with success. It 
would be in vain for a master to attempt it whose character was 
known for duplicity, untruth, dishonesty, cruelty, etc., etc. He 
would not succeed in it ; for no one is better acquainted with ihe 
master than the slave himself. 

RELIGION TO BE CULTIVATED. 

To insure the success of the plan in all^^its parts, I will say also 
to such masters as feel an interest in the happiness of their black 
people, and will attempt to execute and carry it out, Neglect not 
religious instruction to your people; for religion must be com- 
bined with the plan, and walk hand in hand with it. 

THE PROGRESS MADE REPORTED EVERY SIX MONTHS. 

To encourage them in the execution and Cirryirtg out of their 
engagement, I showed them, every six months, or twice a year, 
their accounts on my books, and informed them of their state. 



16 

their success, and the sum of money they had gained, and which 
was in ray hands, standing to their credit of their accountf. This 
proceeding on my part appeared to instil, as it were, new Hfe 
into them, to afford them great satisfaction; it was a proof, also, 
to them, of the interest I took and felt in their affairs. 

PROPER LAWS TO PROTECT THE SLAVES IN THIS PLAN 
DESIRABLE. 

The Legislatures of our different slave States might, by the 
enactment of laws on the subject, greatly assist and protect the 
interest of the slave. I do not mean by forcing the masters to 
make such arrangements, or to come to such an understanding 
with their slaves ; but in the event of misfortune or bankruptcy 
in the master or mistress whose slaves had been working under 
such an arrangement made with them, that the master or mis- 
tress might be permitted to prove, on his or her oath, in a court 
of justice, that such an agreement existed between him or her, 
and their slaves; and that they (the slaves) had been working 
under eaid agreement, for such or such a length of time ; that 
such a sum of money had been gained by them towards their 
freedom, etc., etc. By which means the slaves, if seized for 
debt, could only be sold for a certain time, of sufficient duration, 
after a legal estimation, for the purpose of paying and liquidat- 
ing the balance due from them (the slaves) on themselves ; well 
understood that such enactments should be made by the differ- 
ent L9gislatures, under the express condition that the slaves 
were not to remain in the United States, but to remove, or to be 
removed, to Liberia, in Africa, so soon as the time of service 
for which they were sold should have expired. If, on the other 
hand, the master or mistress of slaves, who had of their own 
free will entered into such an agreement with their slaves, should 
die previous to the slaves having acquired the right to emigrate 
to Liberia, under the agreement they had made to labor for 
their freedom, the slaves should be protected by law, and per- 
mitted to prove in a court of justice, by one or more disinterest- 
ed white witnesses, who had heard it from the mouth of the 
master or mistress of the slaves, the amount they had already 
gained under the agreement; and they should then be sold as 
servants for time, to pay the balance due from them, the said 
slaves, and then forced to emigrate to Liberia. 



17 



SUBSISTENCE AND CARE OF THE SLAVES. 

I will DOW say a few words relative to my general mode ot 
treating those people. They were lodged in warm and comfort- 
able houses ; fed with good salt provisions and corn bread, with 
a plenty of garden vegetables cooked with pork; clothed with 
strong, durable clothing, according to the season. A ration of 
molasses and one of salt was allowed them weekly, and a liltla 
coffee and common tea every six months. Christmas and New- 
Year's presents served to supply their little wants, and enable 
Ihem to leave nearly every thing arising fiom their own labor 
untouched in my hands. They kept hogs and fowls of their 
own, and cultivated what ground they needed in corn and veg- 
etables. In sickness, I had as good care taken of them as of 
myself, with good nurses to attend them. 

MODE OF PUNISHING OFFENCES. 

When they committed, or were charged with offence?, I did 
not order an arbitrary punishment, but had them tried by their 
peers. I would summon a jury of five or six of the principal men ; 
say to them, Such a man or such a woman is charged with such 
or such an offence. The witnesses, I am told, are such and such 
persons. Summon them, hold your court, have him tried, and 
report to me your judgment, and the punishment to be inflicted. 
It was done all in due form. Tiie court-room was the church ; 
the trial took place, and the person acquitted or condemned. 
The punishment awarded, if condemned and found guilty, was 
reported to me, and I generally found it necessary to modify it, 
in reference to leniency. If twenty lashes were awarded, I 
would say to the judges, who were the executors of the sentence, 
Give ten lashes and a moral lecture to the culprit, for the of- 
fence. It was done; the criminal acknowledged the justice of 
the punishment, promised better things for the future, and for- 
got not to be grateful to the master, who had reduced the degree 
of punishment, and reinstated him in place and favor. 

NO "WHITE OVERSEER NEEDED. 

For upwards of twenty years I have had no white man over 
them as an overseer ; one of themselves was their manager or 
commander, who conducted, directed, and managed the others; 
nor would I myself have the time in six months to see in per- 
son what they were doing, though the commander would report 



18 

to me nightly what he had done through the day, and receive 
my instructions for the diy following. They were, beside=, my 
men of business, enjoyed my confidence, were my cleiks, trans- 
acted all my affairs, made purchases of materials, collected my 
rents, leased my houses, took care of ray property and effects of 
every kind, and that with an honesty and fidelity which was 
proof against every temptation. 

As I promised to state in the sequel some circumstanceB that 
would go to show the spirit that animated and filled their souls, 
in executing and carrying out the agreement they had entered 
into with their master, and in what way the extra labor I have 
spoken of was performed by them, I have row to observe that 
I have been looked on generally by the French planters on the 
side of the river opposite to New-Orleans (where I reside), as, if 
not a very cruel, at least a very severe master, one who works 
his people late asd early ; for the whip was seldom or never 
heard on my plantation — never, indeed, except to uphold and 
support good order and morality. 

MR. m'dONOGh's people VOLUNTARILY LABORED SO HARD THAT 
HE WAS ESTEEMED A CRUEL MASTER. 

Some yeus since, a gentleman from one of the Eastern 
States, a friend of mine, met me in a street of New-Orleans, on 
a Monday, and on stopping me, began to smile, saying that he 
had passed the day previous, the Sibbatb, in the country, a few 
leagues above my residence, on the right bank of the Mississippi, 
at the house cf a rich sugar-planter, who had given a party in 
honor of his arrival, and there had met at dinner some twenty 
or thirty French gentlemen — principally sugar-planters of that 
side of the river — and their ladies ; that at dinner the conversa- 
tion turned on planting, crops, and slavery, etc., etc., and he 
was asked what was generally thought by the inhabitants of the 
Eastern and Northern States, of the inhabitants of the South 
of the Union, the slaveholders. The gentleman replied, among 
other observations, that the French planters of Louisiana were 
looked upon generally by the Americans of the North as very 
severe, and even cruel misters in the treatment of their slaves — 
much more so even than the planters of Louisiana of Eogli&h 
ancestry. This brought from the gentlemen at table an asser- 
tion that some of the most severe masters of the State were to 
be found among the Anglo-Americans — a term by which all 
Americans and strangers geneially are called by the natives 



19 

of Louisiana of French descent — and " as an instance, 
they cited you, mentioning your name aa one who obliged his 
people to work until midnight, and one and two o'clock in the 
morniog ; and for the truth of the assertion, they appeal?d to 
one another, when it was confirmed by them generally, both 
ladies and gentlemen, that they had known your black people 
often and often to have been at work (as they had seen them 
with their own eyes) until that late hour of the night and morn- 
ing, adding that it was known to be a common tbing with them 
to work late and early." The gentleman observed to the com- 
pany, as he informed rae, that the circumstances surprised and 
astonished him much ; knowing me, as he did, he had not sup- 
posed me capable of treating my people with such severity, etc., 
etc. Tney again assured him of the fact, and appealed to 
every inhabitant of the country between that and my residence, 
for its truth. "Now,'' says my friend, the gentleman in ques- 
tion, to me, " I merely mention there things to you. I do not 
inquire as to the truth of it ; because I am convinced there is 
some mistake about it, something I do not understand." To 
this I observed, smiling, "Not so fast, my friend. All that 
those ladies and gentlemen asserted, is true ; and they have seen, 
as they informed you, with their own eyes, my people at work, 
often and often, at the hours they mentioned to you. But 
did they tell you, at the same time, that they never saw 
them at work but they were as merry as crickets, singing and 
joyful, making the whole neighborhood vocal with their happi- 
ness? because, had they told you that, which would have been 
nothing but the truth, it would no doubt have convinced you 
that there was no compulsion in their laboring. The only part 
of the assertion of those ladies and gentlemen which was incor- 
rect, was that wherein they observed that I obliged my slaves to 
work till midnight, and one and two o'clock in the morning. 
They are often working, I confess, until these hours ; but I do 
not force them to work ; it is of their own free will and accord." 
'■ Then,'' observed the gentleman, ** you must pay them, I pre- 
sume." ''I do not say," said I to him, "what I do, further 
than that there is no compulsion in their laboring ; but I prom- 
ise that you shall know the story one day, if I am spared" 
(which he will, as I shall send him a copy of this). We then 
separated ; but I found the gentleman, I confess, very incredu- 
lous, notwithstanding he knew something of my character, as to 



20 

slaves working of their own accord, without compulsion from 
their master. 

AN ANKCDOTE ILLUSTRATIVE OF THEIR CHEERFUL, VOLUNTARY 
INDUSTRY. 

The story is this : My residence is on the opposite side of 
the Mississippi, immediately ia front of the centre of the city 
of New-Orleans. The steam ferry which runs from one side of 
the river to the other, lands a short distance below my house. 
The French ladies and gentlemen residing above my house, on 
the right bank of the river, being very fond of balls and thea- 
tres, were, in consequence, in the constant habit of passing and 
repassing my house, to and from the city of New-Orleans, in 
their carriages, at all hours of the night and morning. Immedi- 
ately below, and adjoining my residence, I had extensive estab- 
lishments for the making of brick, engaged in working in which, 
those ladies and gentlemen saw with their own eyes, often and 
often, my people, at the hours they mentioned, which explains 
why they considered me a severe master. I have to observe 
that I was in the habit of never retiring to rest at night until 
seeing my commander, and knowing that the people had come 
in from their work (for I have labored myself day and night 
through a long life, and shall continue so to do to its close). And 
often and often, when the clock would strike 10, and 11, I 
would say to a servant of the house, not having seen the com- 
mander, ** Have the people come in from their work ?" And be 
would reply, "No, sir. I see bonfires in the brick yard; they have 
not yet finished their work." I would then say to him, •' Go 
out, and ask the commander what keeps him out so late." When 
he would return to me, saying, " Sir, the commander says there 
is some thirty or forty thousand bricks out ; the weather looks 
like rain, and he must get them in and save them, or they will be 
lost." Satisfied with this statement, I have waited until mid- 
night, and sent out again; the same answer returned ; again, at 
1 o'clock in the morning, the same answer — they singing the 
whole time, that they might be heard over the neighborhood. 
At 2 o'clock I have sent out to him with positive orders to break 
off work, and bring his people in, even if the bricks should be 
lest — that I would not permit them to work any longer — when 
in would come the commander (and likely not at all pleased), 
saying, " Sir, if you had let us gone on an hour or two longer, 
we should have saved all our brick, which I fear we may lose." 



21 

When I have had to console him by telling him, " You cannot 
work all night ; it is very late now ; the people must have rest." 
This will serve to show how the spirit worked within them. 
And after retiring to bed and rest, I have known them hundreds 
of times, on an appearance of rain, to arise and go out to work, 
at all hours of the night and morning. 

MR. PARKER TRIES TO BUY ONE OF HIS SLAVES. 

I will now give another instance (I could relate hundreds) go- 
ing to show the effect of that hope, that charm of man's exist- 
ence, " Liberty," on the life and actions of those people. Some 
years eince, some twenty or thirty of those people were engaged 
in erecting some extensive brick warehouses on Julia sireet, in 
New-Orleans (for they were excellent mechanics of various 
trades, and were in the habit of making brick, purchasing shells 
and burning lime, sawing timber, and then taking the materials, 
when made, and building them up into fine houses, on both 
sides of the river, for their master), near to the residence of Ed- 
ward E. Parker, Esq., one of our most wealthy and respectable 
citizens, a gentleman who was in the habit of building very ex- 
tensively himself in the city. Meeting Mr. Parker, on a certain 
day, in a street of New-Orleans, I was accosted and asked 
whether I would sell him a certain black man named Jim, or 
James. Having several men by that name, I inquired which 
James, when he observed. The one who was at the head of 
the bricklayers who were erecting those warehouses on Julia 
street, near to his (Mr. Parker's) residence. I replied to him 
no ; that I was not in the habit of selling people ; that I pur- 
chased occasionally, but never sold. Mr. Parker then observed, 
that he wished I would depart in the present instance from my 
general rule, and agree to sell him that man ; that he was very 
desirous of possessing him ; that as he was erecting several 
buildings, the man would suit him ; and that he would give a 
good price for him. I again said to him that the man was not 
for sale, and was about to leave him, when he observed : " Could 
you not be tempted, sir, to sell him ? I will give you $2500 for 
him, in cash." I told Mr. Parker it did not tempt me, and we 
separated. A week or two thereafter, I met Mr. Parker again, 
and was again accosted on the same subject, with, " Do, Mr. Mc- 
Donogh, sell me that man ; I will give you 13000 for him." 
Again I made him the same answer, that he was not for sale. 
Again and again we met in the streets, and each time the same 



22 

request, by raising the oflfer of price at each interview, 
until at last Mr. Parker informed me that he would pay me 
$5000 in cash for him. Feeling at Iccglh a little vexed at 
those repeated demand?, I said to Mr. Parker, " Though you are 
a very rich man, sir, your whole fortune could not purchase that 
man — not that he is worth it, or worth more than any other man, 
or any of the othere, but because he is not to be sold." Mr. 
Parker, finding, at length, from the refuBal of such a large sum 
of money for him, that there was no hope of obtaining him, ob- 
served to me, •' Well, then, Mr. McDonogh, seeing now that 
you will not sell him at any price, tell me, what kind of people 
are those of yours?" To which I replied, "How so, Mr. Par- 
ker ? I suppose they are like other men — flesh and blood, like 
you and myself." When he replied, " Why, sir, I have never 
seen such people. Building, as they are, next door to my resi- 
dence, I see, and have my eye on them from morning till night. 
You are never there ; for I have never met you, or seen you 
once at the building. Tell mp, sir," said he, " where do those 
people of yours live? Da they cross the river morning and 
night?" I informed him that they lived on the opposite side 
of the river, where I lived myself, and crossed it to their work, 
when working in Ne-v-Orleans, night and raoraing, except when 
stormy (which happened very seldom), when T did not permit 
them to cross it, to endanger their lives ; at such time, they re- 
mained at home or in the city. " Why, sir," said he, " I am an 
early riser, getting up before day ; and do you think that I am 
not awoke, every morning of my life, by the noise of their trowels 
at work, and their singing and noise, before day? and do you 
suppose, sir, that they stap or leave off work at sunset ? No, 
sir ; but they work as long as they can see to lay brick, and 
then carry up brick and mortar, far an hour or two [afterwards, 
to be ahead of their work the next morning. And again, s'r, 
do you think they walk at their work ? No sir; they run all 
day. You see, sir," said he, " those immensely long ladder?, 
five stories in height ; do you suppose tbey walk up them ? No, 
sir ; they run up and down them like monkeys, the whole day 
long. I never saw such people as those, sir ; I do not know 
what to make of them. Was there a white man over them, 
with a whip in his hand, all day, why, then I should see and 
understand the cause of their running and incessant labor. But 
I cannot comprehend it, sir; there is something in it, sir ; there 



23 

ii something in it. Great man, sir, that Jim — great man, sir — 
should like to own hiro, sir — should like to own him." After 
havicg laughed very heartily at the observatioiis of Mr. Parker 
(for it was all truth, every word of ii), I informed him that there 
was a secret about it, which I would disclose to him some day; 
and we separated. 

jMow, Mr. Parker imputed the conduct of these people (for I 
have given the very woida and expiessions he used ; and he is 
alive, hearty and well, in New-Orleans, and can be spoken to by 
any one interested in the subject) to the head man who con- 
ducted them, and in consequence, impressed with that belief, of- 
fered me five thousand dollars for him ; but Mr, Parker knew 
not the stimulus that acted on the heart of each and every one 
of ihem; that it was the whole body of them that moved to- 
gether as one mind — not one aloce, the bead man, as he supposed. 

In closing this statement, I will say a few words to show 
what the attachment of people similarly situated, slaves, will be 
to a master who treats them justly. The ship on which they 
sailed for Africa lay opposite my house, in the Mississippi, at 
the bank of the river. I had taken my leave of them on their 
going on board the ship, on Friday evening, the day previous to 
her sailing, in my house. The scene which then took place I 
will not attempt to describe ; it can never ba erased from my 
memory. Ihough standing in need, on the occasion, of conso- 
lation mjself, in bidding a last farewell on earth to those who 
had so many claims on my affection, and who had been round 
and about me for such a long series of years, I had to adaiinister 
it to them, who stood in the greater need of it. To teil them 
that the separation was but for a brief period of time ; that we 
should meet again, I trusted, in a better and happier state ; to 
charge them to gird up their loins, and play the man valiantly 
in their determination to enter their own Canaan ; and to remem- 
ber that there was still another aud final separation from all 
things earthly which they had to sustain and encounter, to meet 
and be prepared for which they must persevere in well-doing to 
the end ; that their lamps must be kept well trim iced, and their 
lights burning. 

JUNE 11, 1842, THEY EMBARK FOR AFRICA. 

Oa Saturday morning, the Rev. Mr. McLain, the agent of the 
American Colonizition Society, who took a deep interest in all 



24 



that conceroed this people, crossed the river to despatch the skip? 
and see them take their departure, which took place about 8 
o'clock in the tDorning of that day, the 11th of June. After 
seeing them off (the ship was towed by a steamer), Mr. McLain 
came into my house, as I was expecting him to breakfast ; and on 
seeing him much affected in his manner— a tear standing in hia 
eye — I inquired if any thing had taken place to give him pain, to 
which he replied, " Oh! sir, it was an affecting sight to see them 
depart. They were all on the deck of the ship ; and your ser- 
vants who have not gone were on the sliore bidding them fare- 
well, whec, from every tongue on board the ship, I heard the 
charge to those on shore, * Fanny, take care of our master 1 
James, take care of our master I take care of our master ! As you 
love us, and hope to meet us in heaven, take care of our beloved 
master !' Which ejaculations," said he, " continued till they 
were out of hearing." This would appear to reverse the general 
course of things. It is the master or mistress who is heard, 
when about to make a voyage, recommending their servants to 
the care of some confidential person ; but here were the servants 
recommending their master to the care of other servants. 

I have now, gentlemen Editors, fulfilled my promise, and re- 
lated the experience I have had in the management of slaves. 
Should it induce but one planter in the State to try the mode I. 
pursued so much to my own satisfaction and pecuniary advan- 
tage, and meet with the same success which has attended my at- 
tempt, I shall consider the time it has coat in giving the relation 
well spent, and myself fully repaid. 

With great respect, I am, gentlemen. 

Your friend and obedient servant, 

John McDoNOGn. 

McDonogh, opposite Netv-Orleans, July lOth, 1842. 



SD 



2 5.4. 









C^' 




• 


' 


A 






c° 


'^^ 


0^ 





A 9^ 



' .^^ 




f.^ ^^c- <-^ ■^.^^^^s.v^* V ^ 



r>^ 



:^^r(J. 



4 o. 









>' 



^ 






^ .'^" 








,0 V "^ ."?'^ °^ """"^o ^v *«"^* 




y «. D0B6S BRO« 


















LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



011 899 440 1 



